Botany, varieties and seed production of Radish

3. RADISH
 BOTANICAL NAME : Raphanus sativus L.
 FAMILY : Cruciferae or Brassicaceae
 CHROMOSOME NO : 2n = 18
 ORIGIN PLACE : Europe and Western Asia

4. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
 Habit: Usually Annual Or biennial herb.
 Root :Taproot system.
 The edible portion of radish root(fusiform) develops from both
primary root and hypocotyls.
 Radish root varies in size, shape, and other external characters as
well as the length depending on cultivars.
 They can grow more than 60cm long, but they tend to become
tough and fibrous when more than 30cm long.

5.  Radishes are annual or biennial brassicaceous crops grown for their
swollen tap roots which can be globular, tapering, or cylindrical.

6.  The root skin color ranges from white through pink, red,
purple, yellow, and green to black, but the flesh is
usually white.
 The roots obtain their color from anthocyanins.
 Red varieties use the anthocyanin pelargonidin as a
pigment.
 Purple cultivars obtain their color from cyanidin.

7. BOTANY
 Stem is herbaceous, erect,
branched.
 It has rosette of leaves, which may
vary in size from 10-45cm
depending on the variety.
 They have a lyrate shape, meaning
they are divided pinnately with an
enlarged terminal lobe and smaller
lateral lobes.

8. FLOWERS
 The plants after the formation of roots if allowed stand,
the central bud elongates releasing the inflorescence
which is racemose type.
 Flowers are white or pink or lilac coloured.

9.  Calyx : Sepal 4,polysephlous,in
two whorls of two each imbricate
aestivation.
 Corolla : Petals 4,arranged in
single whorl alternating with
sepals, polypetalous, often with
long claws and spread out to form a
cross.

10.  Androecium: Stamen
6,polyandrous,arranged in two
whorls of 4 and 2 (tetradynamous)
outer 2 are short and inner 4 are
long, anthers bilobed.
 Gynoecium :
Bicarpellary,syncarpous initially
unilocular and later bilocular,one or
more ovules or parietal
placentation,style short,stigma
bifid, ovary superior.

11.  Radish is cross-pollinated (entomophilous) due to sporophytic
system of self-incompatibility.
 It shows considerable inbreeding depression on selfing.
 It is pollinated mainly by wild honey bees and wild-flower flies.
 Anthesis occurs during 9.00-10.00 hr
 Anther dehiscence is b/w 9.00 & 10 hr
 Pollen fertility is maximum on the day of anthesis.
 Stigma is receptive at the time of anthesis & lasts till 4 days after
anthesis

12.  The fruits are small pods which can be eaten when young.
 Fruit botanically called siliqua
 Seeds are large irregular grayish pink in colour and endospermic.

13. ASIATIC VARITIES V/S EUROPEAN VARIETIES
ASIATIC VARITIES EUROPEAN VARIETIES
 Requires slightly higher
temperature for successful
cultivation
 Take more time from sowing
to maturity
 Roots are longer in size &
tapering in shape
 Produce good quality roots &
seeds in plains
 Requires no chilling
temperature for seed
production
 Relatively high yielding
 Requires lower temperature
for successful cultivation
 Take less time from sowing
to maturity
 Roots are smaller in size &
stumpy in shape
 Produce good quality roots
in plains but produce seeds
only in temperate areas.
 Requires chilling
temperature for seed
production
 Relatively low yielding

14. Asiatic Varieties European Varieties
Pusa Desi Pusa Himani (Radish Black * Japanese
White)
Pusa Reshmi ( Green Type *
Desi Type)
Rapid Red White Tipped:
Globular/Round Form
Pusa Chetki Scarlet Globe- Round Shaped Roots
Punjab Safed: White 5 *
Japanese White
Scarlet Long
Arka Nishanth –Multiple
Disease Resistant
Pusa Mridula-extra Early And Table
Purpose Variety
Chinese Pink – Dual Season
Variety (Hills And Plains)
White Icicle- Tender Variety

15. Asiatic or Tropical Type
 Asiatic types don’t require chilling temperature for
bolting and set seed freely under tropical conditions.
 Hence their seed can be produced under tropical
conditions.

16. Pusa Chetki:
 Year of Release: 1988
 It was developed by IARI, New
Delhi through selfing and massing
from the seed collected from
Denmark in 1966.
 Roots are medium sized, pure white,
slim, mild pungent and soft with
blunt end.
 Roots become ready for harvesting
in 40-45days after sowing.

17.  Early maturing tropical type variety.
 Suitable for growing in hotter months, i.e. middle of
March to middle of August when no other variety can
be grown successfully.
 Leaves are dark green entire with slight lobing and upright.

18. Pusa Desi:
 Developed at IARI, New Delhi through selection from a local
collection.
 Roots are 30-35cm long, white, more pungent and tapering
with green stem end.
 Ready for harvesting in 50-60 days after sowing.
 Suitable for sowing from mid-august to early October.

19. Pusa Reshmi:
 Developed by IARI, New Delhi.
 Roots are 30-35cm long, mild
pungent ,white, slightly green with
tapering end.
 Roots mature in 55-60 days after
sowing.
 Tolerant to slightly higher
temperature.

20. Punjab Safed:
 Developed at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab.
A derivative of the cross White 5 × Japanese White.
 Year of release: 1975
 Roots are long (30-40 cm), thick (3-5 cm), pure white, tapering,
smooth, mild in taste, medium pungent with good flavour and
free from forking.
 It is a quick growing type with roots remaining edible for 10
days after attaining full size

21. Punjab Pasand
 Developed at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab.
 Year of release:1997
 It is an early maturing variety.
 Roots are long, pure white, semi-stumped and free from hairs.
 It is suitable for sowing in main season.
 Yield:214 q/acre

22. Punjab Ageti
 Developed at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana,
Punjab.
 Year of release:1996
 Roots are red skinned at the top and white at the lower
half, tapering long (25.5 cm) medium thick (2.9 cm), less
pungent with smooth few hairs.
 Yield:150q/acre

23. Kashi Sweta
 Developed at IIVR, Varanasi
 Recommended area :UP, Bihar, Punjab
Jharkhand.
 This variety has been developed through
selection from Pusa Chetki population.
 It is suitable for early harvesting (30-35 days
after sowing)
 Roots are 25-30cm long,3.3-4 cm in diameter
,straight tapering with pointed end.Yield: 45-47
t/ha.

24. Kashi Hans
 Developed at IIVR, Varanasi
 Recommended areas: UP ,Punjab , Jharkhand.
 This has been developed through selection.
 It is suitable for September to febrauary planting and
harvesting can be done after 40-45 days after sowing.
 It can stand in the field upto 10-15 days after commercial
maturity.
 Roots are straight, tapering 30-35cm long,1.5-2 cm diameter.
 Yield 43-45 t/ha.

25. Kalyanpur No. 1:
 Developed at Vegetable Research Centre, Kalyanpur, Kanpur.
 Year of release: 1982
 Developed through selection from a local collection and was
recommended for commercial cultivation in U.P.
 Root is 22-25cm long, smooth, crispy,white with green topped.
 Resistance against mustard sawfly, aphid and white rust.
 Yield: 300-350 q/ha

26. Hisar Mooli No 1:
 Developed at, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar.
 Roots are long, soft, white and straight.
 It requires 50-55 days to mature.
 Yield: 225 q/ha

27. CO 1
 This variety is released by TNAU in 1981
 It is a selection from germplasm type.
 The crop duration ranges from 40 to 45 days and hence suitable for
cropping systems.
 It yields 20-25 t/ha
 This variety is suitable for growing all the year round under
different cropping systems.
 It bolts and sets seeds in the plain and hence very easy for the
farmers to produce seeds themselves.

28. Arka Nishanth
 Developed at IIHR, Bangalore
 An improvement over a collection IIHR-
72 from Singapore after 10 cycles of
mass selection
 Year of release: 1980 by SVRC
 Recommended area : All Over
Karnataka
 Roots are long marble white in colour
with crisp texture and mild pungency.

29. • Resistant to pithiness, premature bolting, root branching
and forking.
• Yield 35 – 40 t/ha
• Sets seeds freely in plains

30. Japanese White
 It is a Japanese introduction made at IARI
Regional Station, Katrain (Kulu valley, H.P).
 Roots are cylindrical ending in a stump and 25-
30cm long.
 Flesh is pure white, crisp, smooth and mildly
pungent, harvested 60-65 days after sowing.
 Produce seeds only in the hills and bolting is
very less.
 Yield: 200-300 q/ha

31. Nadauni
 This variety has been developed from a local germplasm
and notified by CVRC in 1975.
 It is a popular variety of Himachal Pradesh.
 Roots are long, tapering, smooth and light pink in colour
with tapering to a point.
 The tops are dark green with cut leaves.
 Yield: 175-225 q/ha.

32. Chinese Pink
 An introduction identified at Solan
 It has 12-15cm long pink coloured roots
with white towards tip
 Roots are crisp and mildly pungent.
 Semi to stumpy shaped roots
 Roots mature in 50-55 days.

33. Ganesh Synthetic
 Developed at Ganeshkhind Root Research Station, Pune
 It is a synthetic variety
 Comes to harvest after 30-40 days after sowing
 Roots white colour
 Yield:100-120 q/ha

34. EUROPEAN/ TEMPERATE TYPE
 They are quick growing and short duration type (25-30
days).
 Produce roots of good quality, less pungent and smaller
in size.

35. Pusa Himani:
 Year of Release:1970
 Developed at IARI Regional Station, Katrain by hybridization
between Black Radish and Japanese White
 Roots are 30-35cm long, skin is pure white with green shoulder and
flesh is crisp and sweet flavored with mild pungency.
 Ready in 55-60 days after sowing.
 250-300 q/ha
 It is the only variety which can be grown throughout the year in
hills barring 3 winter months(Nov-Jan)

36. Pusa Gulabi
 Released from IARI, New Delhi in 2012
 First entire pink flesh unique trait
nutritional rich radish variety.
 High total Carotenoids, anthocyanin and
optimal ascorbic acid.
 Medium root size ,cylindrical shape
optimal yield and consumer preference
over existing varities.
 Average yield :60t/ha.

37. Pusa jamuni
 Released from IARI, New Delhi in 2012
 First purple fleshed unique trait
nutritionally rich radish variety having
high anthocyanins and ascorbic acid
 Yield : 50t/ha

38. Pusa Mridula
 Released from IARI,New Delhi in 2005
 Can be grown throughout India
 Yield : 13.5 t/ha
 Kitchen garden or container garden variety
 Roots globular in shape, bright red in colour,
size (2.9 x 4.1 cm), white flesh with soft
texture and mild pungent taste.
 Maturity in 20-25 days after sowing. Suitable
for winter crop (September-February).
EXTRA EARLY AND TABLE PURPOSE
VARIETY.

39. Scarlet Globe:
 Released from IARI, New Delhi
 Roots are round, 2cm in diameter,
red in colour and flesh is crisp
and pure white.
 It becomes ready for harvesting in
25-30 days after sowing.
 Roots become pithy if they are not
harvested at maturity.

40. Rapid Red White Tipped:
 It is an early variety and
produce short foliage.
 Roots are small, round and
red in colour with green top
foliage. Matures 25 days after
sowing.
 Flesh is white, crisp and
pungent.

41. White Icicle:
 Roots cylindrical ending in a stump,
12-15cm long 2-3cm thick, skin
pure white with icy white flesh,
mildly pungent flavour, sweet and
free from green top.
 A table variety becomes pithy if not
harvested in time
 Ready for harvesting in 25-30 days.

42. Scarlet long:
 Leaves are 15-20cm long and light
green in colour.
 Roots are long and tapering to a
point, red with soft and white
flesh.
 Ready for harvesting in 30-40 days
after sowing.

43. Palam Hriday
 Roots are spindle shaped outer green
in colour and reddish pink when cut
open.
 Leaves straight, roots round , core
pink, high vitamin C, good for table
purpose.
 Ready in 45-50 days.
 Average yield :20t/ha

44. Hill Queen
 Sowing time : Suitable For May To November Sowing.
 Root colour: Pure white, smooth without much of hair on root
surface.
 Specifications : Roots are 12-15 inches long , tapering and semi
cylindrical on bottom on maturity, sweet in taste.
 Maturity :45-50 days
 Popular variety in North India

45. French Breakfast
 These Radishes are round in root shape
but most are oblong and two to four
inches in length.
 These Radishes are known for its
vibrant colour which graduates red to
white at tip.
 These Radish are very crisp and offer a
mildly spicy flavour.
 Availability: Available year round.

46. Jaunpuri Radish
 Other names: Jaunpuri radish or Giant
radish or Newari
 It is known as “Largest Radish in the
World”
 Produces roots more than 1m long
 This is the traditional variety grown in
jaunpuri district of Uttar Pradesh and
capable of reaching 10 kg in weight
and more!!!!

47. Pusa Sagarika
Purple fleshed radish variety

48. Pusa Shuka
1st Green
shoulder radish
variety

49. Pusa Vidhu
This radish variety has
long field staying
capacity white colour
variety.

50. SEED PRODUCTION
A. TEMPERATE VARIETIES/ EUROPEAN TYPES:
 These produce satisfactory seeds in the temperate hills by over
wintering.
 These varieties flower very late in plains. Seeds of such varieties
are produced in hills only.
 Those temperate varieties viz. White Icicle, Rapid Red White
Tipped, Pusa Himani, Scarlet Long and Scarlet Globe.
 Autumn sown crop gives higher seed yield and mature earlier.

51. B. TROPICAL OR ASIATIC VARIETIES
 These produce seeds freely in plains. (e.g Pusa Reshmi,
Pusa Chetki, Japanese White, Chinese Pink).
 The seeds of these varieties are usually produced in plains,
but good quality seed of some of these varieties i.e.
Japanese White can only produced in hills.

52. Methods of seed production
 1. Seed to seed method - for varieties which do not
stand transplanting (In-situ method)
 2. Root to seed method (Transplanting method)
Stages of seed production
 Breeder seed → Foundation seed → Certified
seed
Season
 For hills - September-October and Plains - April-June.

53. TIME OF SOWING
 For seed production purpose, adjust sowing time in such a way
that roots must get ready by the onset of winters for receiving
chilling stimulus particularly in European types.
 For hills: Autumn sowing preferably may be done in early
October.
 Spring sowing can also be done in March, as soon as land is
prepared.
 However autumn sowing gives higher seed yield.

54. PREPARATION OF FIELD
 Prepare the field to fine tilth by 2-3 ploughings and 3-4 harrowing
followed by levelling.
SPACING -45 cm X 45 cm

55. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
 In addition to root crop, apply 200-250q/ha of well rotten
Farm Yard Manure at the time of preparation of land.
 At the time of final levelling, also apply 35kg nitrogen,
50kg, phosphorous and 50kg potassium per ha as basal
application.
 Another dose of 35 kg /ha nitrogen is top dressed, when
the roots just start growing.

56. IRRIGATION
 Irrigate the crop at 8-10 days interval depending upon weather
conditions.
 During early warm weather it is advisable to irrigate the crop at 4-
5days interval.
INTERCULTURE
 One weeding and earthing up during the early stages of growth are
necessary for proper emergence of seed stalk.

57. SELECTION OF ROOTS
 Uproot the plant when they have attained maturity (30-70days)
depending upon the variety.
 After harvesting, each root is critically examined for foliage and root
characteristics namely, size, shape, colour, texture, sponginess etc.
 Roots having off type foliage or roots not conforming to varietal
characteristic must be rejected.
 The diseased, malformed, forked or any other undesirable types are
also rejected.

58. PREPARATION OF STECKLINGS FROM
SELECTED ROOTS
 After selection, the top is cut off in such a way as to leave
small underdeveloped leaves together with about 2cm of
petioles of older leaves.
 It is usual practice to cut 1/3rd of lower root portion in
Asiatic types but whole roots are used in European
varieties.
 These are reset/replanted in well prepared fields at a
spacing of 60x45cm in Asiatic and 45x45cm in European
types.

59. Flowering and fruit setting
 Honey bees are chief pollinating agents.
 It has been demonstrated that seed yield in radish is greatly
influenced by number of honeybees visiting the flowers.
 Nectar secretion, pollen formation and bee activity was influenced
by environment.
 It has been proved that radishes grown for seed production should
not be located too close to field of major honey producing plants
such as clover because the bee tends to visit these plants in
preference to radish.
.

60.  It is a cross pollinated crop due to the presence of self
incompatibility especially sporophytic self-incompatibility.
 A temperature of 32º C or higher causes stigma to become dry and
pollen fail to germinate.
 A period of dry weather might cause formation of underdeveloped
Pods
 Combination of cold storage and GA spray (100ppm) after
replanting leads to highest percentage of flowering in White Icicle,
Pusa-Himani and Japanese White.

61. FLOWERING IN RADISH

62. Isolation requirements
 Radish is cross pollinated by insects, chiefly honeybees.
 Seed field must be away from field of other radish varieties,
fields of same varieties not confirming to varietal purity
requirement for certification.
 At least 1600 meters for foundation seed production and 1000
meter for certified seed production should be kept.

63. Rouging
 Plants with off-type foliage and the direct bolters are
eliminated from the field prior to flowering and crop is left to
seed.
 When roots are lifted, they are critically examined for true to
type, besides small sized, over sized stecklings, diseased,
forked and off types should be discarded.

64. Normally 3 rouging are done:
 Mainly before maturity of roots for off types foliage.
 At time for replanting for verifying root characteristic such
as size, shape, colour,texture etc.
 Last at flowering stage for early and late plants affected by
designated diseases like black leg and black rot and
eliminate them.

65. Harvesting and threshing
 The crop is cut when plants are fully matured.
 Crop is cut with sickle and brought to threshing floor for
threshing.
 There is more often difficulty in threshing the seeds from
pods.
 Radish pod do not dehisce even after maturity.

66.  It is therefore, important to thoroughly dry them before
commencing the threshing.
 Threshing can be done by beating with the sticks.
 Seeds afterwards should be dried to 6 per cent moisture
before storage.

67. Seed Yield
 Asiatic types : 9-12q/ha
 European types : 4-5q/ha
 1000 seed weight is about 10g.

68. SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS
FIELD INSPECTION
A. MOTHER ROOT PRODUCTION STAGE
Minimum of two inspections should be made as follows:
 Inspection should be done after 20-30 days of sowing in
order to determine isolation, volunteer plants, out crosses,
off types and other relevant factors.
 Second inspection is done after mother roots have been
lifted to verify true characteristic of roots.

69. B. SEED PRODUCTION STAGE
 A minimum of one inspection is done during flowering to
check isolation, off type and other relevant factors.

70. Specific Requirements
Factors Minimum (%)
Foundation
Permitted
limits
Certified
*Roots not conforming to the
varietal Characteristics including
for seed roots
0.10 0.20
**Off Types (Plants)
0.10 0.20
Plants infected by seed borne
diseases
0.10 0.50

71. FIELD STANDARDS
Factor Foundation
(Maximum
permitted)
Certified
(Maximum
permitted)
Off types
(maximum)
0.10 0.50
Plants affected by
seed borne diseases
0.10 0.50
Roots not confirming
to varietal
characteristics
0.10 0.20

72. SEED STANDARDS
Factors Foundation Certified
Pure seed (minimum) 98% 98%
Inert matter (maximum) 2% 2%
Other crop seed
(maximum) (no./kg)
5/kg 10/kg
Total weed seed
(maximum) (no./kg)
10/kg 10/kg
Germination (minimum) 70% 70%
Moisture (maximum)
(normal
container)
6% 6%
For VP
Container(maximum)
5% 5%

74. FUNGAL DISEASES
WHITE RUST:
(Albugo candida)
 It produces a white powdery substances
in patches on the under surface of the
leaves.
 It mainly appears on the leaves and
flowering shoots which gets deformed
and bear only malformed flowers.
 Fungus survives season to season in
plant debris, in soil and also mixed with
seeds
 Moist cool (20-25oC) weather favours
the disease development.

75. Control measures:
 Treat the seed with carbendazim @3g/Kg seed.
 Apply copper oxychloride (0.3%) for effective control.
 Obtain seed from healthy plants.
 Destruction of diseased crop debris helps in the reduction
of inoculum
 0.8% Bordeaux mixture or Dithane Z-78

76. Alternaria blight: Alternaria brassicicola
 Symptoms appear on leaves, stem, pods
and seeds.
 On leaves, round yellow spots are
formed.
 Centre of spot dries and drop-off.
 Disease is seed borne and also survives
from season to season on diseased crop
material.
 Hot and moist weather conditions are
conducive.

77. Control measures:
 Treat the seed with thiram 75WP @3g/kg seed.
 Spray copper oxychloride @ 0.3 per cent or mancozeb @
0.25 per cent at 8-10 days interval.

78. Powdery mildew:
 All plant parts are covered by white powdery growth.
Control measures:
 Before observing symptoms, spray dinocap (0.05%) or wettable
sulphur (0.2%) at 10-15 days interval.

79. VIRAL DISEASES :Radish mosaic
 Affected plants are stunted and their leaves are reduced in
size.
 Disease is readily transmitted to radish by sap inoculation
but not through the seeds.
 Vector for transmission of radish mosaic is aphid.
• Characteristic symptoms of this disease are mosaic and
mottling of young leaves often associated with interveinal
chlorotic area which gradually increase in size.
• Finally coalesce to form irregular characteristic patches.

80. Control measures:
 Disease spread can be minimized by the application of
malathion @ 0.05 per cent twice or thrice at 10-15
days interval.

81. PESTS : Aphids
(Myzus persicae , Brevicoryne brassicae)
Aphididae Hemiptera
 Adult: Aphids are small, soft-bodied, slow-
moving insects.
 They are often found in large colonies on the
undersurface of leaves.
 A colony consists of winged and wingless
adults and various sizes of nymphs.
 Aphids may be black, yellow or pink,

82. DAMAGE
 Aphids feed by sucking plant sap.
 Saliva injected while feeding may carry plant viruses or may be
toxic to the host plant.
 Feeding by large numbers discolors foliage, curls leaves, and
damages developing buds.
 The plants may be covered by a sticky substance, honey dew,
which is excreted by the aphids.
 The cloudy and humid atmospheric conditions are favourable for
rapid increase of aphid population.

83. Control measures:
 Remove and destroy affected plant parts and spray
malathion (0.05%).
 Harvesting should be done 7-10 days after application of
insecticides.

84. Flea Beetle : (Phyllotreta spp.)
Adult:
 Flea beetle adults are 1.5 to 3 mm
long, black or bronze beetles.
 Their hind legs are well developed
for jumping.
 Eggs are laid on or near the roots
where larvae feed.
 Mature larvae pupate in the soil
near the host plant.
 The second appearance of adults is
in early August for single-
generation species

85. Damage
 Adult flea beetles cause the most damage by feeding on the
leaves and stems.
 They create shallow pits and small rounded, irregular holes
(usually less than 1/8th inch) in the leaves.
 This type of damage is unique to flea beetles.
 Grub stage is not harmful

86. Management
 Collect and destruction of adult beetles.
 Deep summer ploughing.
 Chemically beetles are control by spray of chloropyriphos
2ml/lit

87. Mustard saw fly : (Athalia promixa)
ADULT:
 Head and abdomen is black in
colour, but thorax is orange colour.
 Wings are translucent, smoky with
black veins
Larva:
 Greenish black with wrinkled body
and has eight pairs of pro-legs.
 On touch the larva falls to ground
and feigns death

88. Damage
 Initially the larva nibbles leaves, later
it feeds from the margins towards the
midrib.
 The grubs cause numerous shot holes
and even riddled the entire leaves by
voracious feeding.
 They devour the epidermis of the
shoot, resulting in drying up of
seedlings and failure to bear seeds in
older plants.

89. Management
 Summer ploughing to destroy the pupa.
 Early sowing should be done.
 Maintain cleaness in field.
 Use of bitter gourd seed oil emulsion as on anti- feedant.
 Spray the crop with malathion 50 EC @ 1000 ml/ha
quinolphos 25 EC @ 625ml/ha.